PAPER III General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

In News: Learning from the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission

To what extent has India’s sanitation landscape been changed by the Swachh Bharat Mission?  

The Swachh Bharat Mission is one of the largest national behavioural change sanitation programs in the world, aimed at eliminating open defecation by providing household toilets across the country.

Swachh Bharat Mission(SBM) envisages to

1. Construct individual, cluster and community toilets.
2. Eliminate or reduce open defecation.
3. Manage solid and liquid wastes through gram panchayats.
4. Create awareness among communities towards sanitation and cleanliness.

Swachh Bharat Mission’s achievements:

1. NFHS data shows the percentage of Indian households with no toilet facility falling from 39 to 19 percent between 2015-16 and 2019-21 survey.
2. A recent study published in Nature, SBM has contributed significantly to reducing infant and under-five mortality rates across the country – averting 60,000 – 70,000 infant lives annually.
3. It likely reduced exposure to faecal-oral pathogens, contributing to lower incidences of diarrhoea and malnutrition.
4. A significant reduction in groundwater contamination was noted in ODF areas.
5. According to the survey by UNICEF, with better access to sanitation facilities, 93% of women reported feeling safer at home. 
6. It has reduced healthcare costs and increased productivity.
7. It has made significant strides in improving sanitation in urban areas, addressing challenges such as waste management and public toilets.
8. It empowered local communities to take ownership of their sanitation challenges through community-led sanitation programs

However,there are certain limitations which need to be addressed.

1. Ensuring the sustainability of newly constructed toilets remains a challenge, as maintenance and repair costs can be prohibitive for some communities. 
2. Disparities in access to sanitation facilities persist between different regions and social groups, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Example,Slum Sanitation Gaps in Urban Areas.
3. Lack of Waste Treatment: Toilet construction in rural areas is not linked to waste treatment, leading to improper disposal of faecal sludge and environmental contamination.
4.  Shortage of sanitation inspectors and inadequacy in recruitment efforts hinder effective monitoring and management of sanitation programs at the local level.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has made significant strides in improving sanitation in India, but it faces several challenges that must be addressed for long-term success and to create a more equitable and sustainable sanitation landscape for all Indians.

Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/learning-from-the-success-of-the-swachh-bharat-mission-9557184/

https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/sep/doc202496389901.pdf